2010 Toyota HiLux Reviews

The news that the Toyota HiLux had become Australia's top-selling vehicle confirmed that Australians were looking beyond traditional sedans and hatches.

Towing the tools during the week and the toys at the weekend has never been easier or more comfortable. Where once the tradie ute was a two-door three-on-a-bench cabin with a column-shift gearbox and an AM radio that made an alarm clock/radio sound good, 21st century machines are far closer to passenger cars.The venerable Toyota HiLux has come under fire from all sides, copping blows from Japanese, German and even locally developed Thai-built Ford products in recent years. Yet the Toyota workhorse finished 2012 as the second biggest-selling vehicle on the local market, as well as the most popular ute and best-selling four-wheel-drive within a segment that's grown substantially.By the end of 2003, there were 50,670 4WD pick-up/cab-chassis vehicles sold in a market that totalled 909,811 sales. Fast-forward five years and the 4WD ute segment totalled 83,308 with 12 models from nine brands on sale in a total market of 1.01 million.Last year, in a total market of 1.11 million, it speared well past the six-figure mark, recording 124,536 sales for 14 models from 11 brands. The reason: versatility. The more recently released dual-cabs now warrant some design focus to make the rear seat useful for more than short trips to the shop at smoko.Right-angled seat cushions have made way for more comfortable benches, lap-sash seat belts and child anchors. Road manners are far less rudimentary. The features lists have improved -- FM radio, seat adjustment and aircon are no longer considered namby-pamby -- as has the level of safety gear, with airbags, anti-lock brakes and even stability control fitted in recent times.The fleet market was largely responsible for putting the HiLux into the top 10 vehicles list but plenty of user-chooser customers need a more versatile machine. The result of expanded choice in the segment and increased competition has led to a wide range of makes and models, each with plenty of kit.HiLux still rules the roost but the others are gaining, adding features and sharpening prices to get a bigger chunk.2008 Toyota Hilux SR5 4WDEngine: 3.0-litre 4-cyl turbo dieselTransmission: 4-speed automaticThirst: 9.5L/100kmCARSGUIDE SAYSThe HiLux has been the dominant force in dual-cab utes, with the brand's reputation for reliability no small factor in its popularity. The SR5 has dual front airbags, aircon, cruise control, 15-inch alloys, nudge bar and anti-lock brakes, but tilt-only steering2008 Nissan Navara ST-X 4WD D40Engine: 2.5-litre 4-cylinderTransmission: 6-speed manualThirst: 9.8L/100kmCARSGUIDE SAYSNavara has been a sales gem for Nissan and this example has been optioned up to include roof racks and a canopy. It sits on 16-inch alloy wheels and packs more power and torque than the HiLux, as well as a few extra features to give it a look-in for the sales race, such as a rotary switch for the 4WD system.2010 Mitsubishi Triton GLX-R 4WDEngine: 2.5-litre 4-cyl turbo dieselTransmission: 5-speed automaticThirst: 9.9L/100kmCARSGUIDE SAYSExtra kit was also Triton's ticket in, given the HiLux's dominance. It has front and side airbags, a fifth ratio for the auto (HiLux still has four), stability control, 17-inch alloys and neat touches such as the roll-down rear window. The look isn't to all tastes but the bullbar takes care of some of that.

Different manufacturers call their four-door utes different names double-cab, crew-cab or dual-cab.

There was no love at first sight. The HiLux looked a bit soft, the driveline — auto transmission and V6 — sounded harsh, the driver's seat was a touch too high for a taller driver and that bloody seatbelt warning chime was fired up by the least amount of movement.Maybe it was after years of jumping in and out of diesel-engined utes — once rattling loud but these days quite smooth and reassuring — that the Toyota's V6 felt coarse.  Maybe the HiLux's style, inside and out, had gone too fancy-dancy for a work truck; there's even LED sparkles for parking lights. And the single cab-chassis ute looked a little low at the front.But a week, and a tonne of gravel later, this four-wheel drive SR Toyota had become a handy home-away-from-home. For all the car-like qualities, the HiLux remains a faithful worker, down the highway and across the paddocks.The HiLuxes were the first of the latest generation utes; smarter and more comfortable and bigger than the last lot. To date Toyota, Nissan (Navara) and Mitsubishi (Triton) have moved on with the Ford/Mazda, Isuzu and Colorado still to follow.Today the HiLux, two and four-wheel drive, remains the country's best-selling ute although there is a fair whack of commercial business compared with private business in those sales.  This seventh generation Toyota ute arrived in 2005 and kept the HiLux name (now 30 years old in this country) moving forward, since then there's been little updates to both style and mechanicals.By October last year there were 32 variants of HiLux with two and four-wheel drive versions, three cabin styles, three engines, manual and automatic transmissions plus three grades of equipment.  The single cab-chassis, four-wheel drive SR HiLux with auto and V6 we tested sits somewhere around the middle of the pack.Fit-out and equipmentComfort features range from power windows to a stereo with USB port and Bluetooth compatibility, SR grade also scores a most comfortable four-spoke steering wheel with audio controls.  A bonus in the cabin is a couple of dashboard cubby holes for storage. And outside this one arrived with a decent factory dropside tray with wooden floor.DrivingSo off to the gravel shed, load up with a tonne of 20mm stones and head out of town. This settles the ute down. Settles it down quite a lot, plenty of grip at the rear but a little less steering feel up front.Steady as it goes then and the HiLux, at around 90km/h, is comfortable with the workload. The big hills need some respect, maybe a drop down from fifth and a little more throttle.But now the driveline no longer sounds rough around the edges. With a job to be done the ute feels and sounds happier. Only the warm smell of brakes on the other side of the big hills confirms there is real work here.Into four-wheel drive, slow and easy across the creek without a bump or scrape. Up a damp dirt hillside track with a little momentum and time for a beer. The hard work was next day, shovelling off a tonne of rock.  By the time the HiLux was headed for home, there was affection for the machine.Unladen it steered, braked and rode with decent manners. The engine and transmission no longer felt coarse, the back end well-behaved and the HiLux loped along at an easy highway pace.  All this cost close on 14 litres per 100km, quite acceptable for the roads and the load.And so the adventure ended with a little more love... apart from that bleeping seatbelt chime (most annoying when working in the paddock). The HiLux is a pretty decent machine, albeit at a pretty decent price.Toyota HiLux SRPrice: from $38,140Body: Single cab chassisEngine: 4-litre V6Power: 126 KW/3600rpmTorque: 343 Nm/1400rpmTransmission: Five-speed auto, four-wheel driveMax rear axle capacity: 1600kgMax towing: 2250kg